Thermostatically controlled oil-burner



D. vH. HILL THERMOSTATICALLY CONTROLLED OIL BURNER Sept. 29, 1931.

Filed Dec. 23. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l III I.

Patented Sept. 29, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DEWEY HJHILL, OF MACOLIB, ILLINQIS, ASSIGNOR TO GLOBE AMERICAN CORPORATION, OF KOKOMO, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA THEBMOSTATICALLY CONTROLLED OIL-BURNER Application filed December 23, 1830. Serial No. 504,285.

My invention relates to the class of liquid fuel burning devices in which a burner is connected by a fuel supply pipe to a constant level supply of fuel, and in which the operation of the burner is controlled by varying the height at which the burner is disposed with respect to the said level.

Generally speaking, the'objects of my invention are those of providing a simple, compact and cheaply constructed burner, fuel supply and control arrangement of this class, and one in which the control of the burner can be effected by conveniently disposed and easily adjusted thermostatic means.

More particularly, the objects of my invention are those of providing a simple and inexpensive fuel burning device of this class in which therfuel supply, the burner and the interposed fuel supply pipe form a rigid unit ada ted to be rocked for raising or lowering the urner with respect to the fuel supply; in which an inclined leg member is pivotally connected to this unit and is movable about its said pivotal connection for effecting-the rocking of the said unit in response to changes in the inclination of the leg member; in

which these changes can be made automatically by a thermally expansible memberi Furthermore, my invention aims to-provide novel features of construction for a device of this class, which will permit a large number of constituent parts to be formed by punch press operations and which will simplify the assembling.

In some additional aspects, my invention also aims to provide simple and easily manipulated meansfor manually adjusting a device of this class, for supporting the needed fuel supply, and to permit the conjoint use of two thermally expansible members for effecting the automatic control of the burner.

Still further and also more detailed objects will appear from the following'specification and from the accompanying drawings, in

which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a thermostatically regulated oil burning device embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged and fragmentary horizontal section taken along the zigzag lines 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an end view of the same device, taken from the left-hand side of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along the line 5--5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a section taken along the line 6-6 in Fig. 2 or Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary and enlarged hori from one end portion of a fuel supply pipe 3 which is fastened at its other end to an 011 well 4, this oil well being supported by a leg member 5. The well 4 is continuously filled to a predetermined level 6 by an oil reservoir 7 opening downward into the well, suitable outlet and valve arrangements for this purpose being well understood by those interested in oil-burning heaters, so that they need not be illustrated here.

To raise or lower the burner 1 with respect to the said level of the oil, I provide a lever which efiectively crosses the fuel supply pipe 1 and which has a foot portion cooperating with the leg member 5 to support the said unit (namely the unit consisting of the oil well, the pipe 3 and the burner), this lever being pivotally connected to the pipe and adjustable in its inclination to the pipe and to the supporting floor 27. Then I interpose means between the upper end of the lever and the pipe for adjusting the spacing therebetween to vary the said inclination, and desirably employ a thermally expansible member as a portion of the adjusting means.

In the illustrated construction, the lever is pivoted by a horizontal pivot pin 8 to two ears 9 A on a bracket 9 which is secured to the fuel pipe 3by a clamp-piece 10 underhanging the pipe, the clamp-piece .being connected to the bracket by bolts 11. The lever itself includes two parallel metal strips 12 respectively engaging the outer faces of the bracket ears 9 A, and a roller 13 spanning the outer end of the two strips 12 and journaled on a shaft 14 which connects the two strips, which roller rests on the floor so as to serve as a foot for the lever. The lever strips 12 desirably have counterpart bends 13 between their inner ends and the pivot pin 8 which extends through them, so as to dispose the inner ends of the lever strips at a relatively short height above the pipe, as shown in Fig. 1. Spanning these inner ends of the two lever strips 12 a nut 24 which has pintles 15 projecting through and journaled in the two strips. Threaded through this nut is an approximately upright adjusting screw 16, which screw is desirably provided at its upper end with a relatively large head 17. This adjusting screw exerts downward pressure oii'ithetop of a thermally expansible member supported upon the pipe 3 by a clamp 18, this member being here shown as consisting of two superposed thermostatic waters 19 of the hollow type commonly employed with a small amount of ether or other highly volatile liquid in each wafer.

To secure a greater actuating power than would be available from a single thermostatic member (even when this consists of two superposed thermostatic wafers) I desirably extend the horizontal webs 18 A of the clamppiece in both directions transversely of the pipe 3, so that these webs can support two thermostatic members 19 respectively disposed at opposite sides of the pipe 9. Then I provide a combined presser and guide member, formed as shown in Fig. 9, which member includes a base strip 20 and two arms 21 extending upwards from opposite sides of the middle portion of the said strip, the said middle of the strip portion desirably having a central boss 22 formed on it for centering the lower end of the adjusting screw 16. The two arms 21 bear respectively against opposite sides of the nut 14, thereby preventing the presser member from rotating about the axis of the screw 16 while permitting the presser member to be raised and lowered in response tothe expansion or contraction of the two thermostatic wafers.

The leg member which cooperates with the said roller (or lever foot) in affording the supporting feet for the said rigid unit preferably is formed to present two floor-engaging parts spaced by a considerable distance at right angles to the direction in which the said lever extends. For this purpose. I desirably make this leg member out of a bar of flat steel bent to form a bottom portion 5 A which is upwardly convexed so as to engage the floor only at widely spaced points 513, the ends of this bottom portion being connected by S-bend portions 5 to vertically extending upper portions 5 C.

To connect these upper portions 5 C of the leg member to the oil well 4. I provide two sockets fastened to diametrically opposite side portions of the oil well. Each of these sockets comprises a metal socketing plate 21 curved to fit against the exterior of the oil well and having a medial portion of the plate embossed outwardly to form a vertical groove 22 corresponding closely in width and depth to the width and thickness of the upper leg member portions 5 G. Then I also form each such socketing plate with a lip 21 B closing the upper end of the said groove in the plate. lVith the plates thus attached to the oil well, each atl'ords a socket into which one upper end of the leg member can be slid, and the lip 21 B on each plate limits the entry of'the corresponding part 5 C. so that the leg member can readily be attached to the well without requiring auxiliary fastening elements.

In using the oil burningvdevice as thus assembled on a floor. height of the oil level above the floor is fixed. being determined by the efi'ective height of the leg member 5 and the construction of the oil valve arrangement at the mouth of the oil reservoir 7. which valve arrangement may be of anv customary type and is not here illustrated. However. the height at which the burner is disposed can readily be varied by means of the adjusting screw 16. Turning this screw so as to increase the spacing of its lower end from the nut '14 will raise the inner ends of the lever strips 12. thereby tilting the lever at an increased angle to the floor. Owing to this change in the angle of incl nation, the pivot pin 8 through which the lever is pivoted to the bracket 9 on the oil pipe will be raised also. thereby rocking the aforesaid unit (counter-clockwise in Fig. 1) about the floorengaging portions of the leg member 5 and raising the burner.

Or. if the burner is to be lowered. a turningof the adjusting screw in the opposite (or nut lowering) direction will decrease the inclination of the leg member with respect to the floor and lpwer the pivot pin 8. thereby rocking the said unit in the other direction about the feet of the leg member and lowering the burner.

During such changes in the inclination of the lever. the foot end of the lever necessarily moves closer to the leg member when the burner is raised, and farther from the leg member when the burner is lowered. However. by employing a roller 13 for the foot of the lever I obviate any friction due to this relative movement of the feet of my apigliance, even when the latter is set on a rough oor. By making my lever member of two metal bars spaced by a distance greaterthan, the outside diameter of the fuel supply pipe 3, I effectively ermit the lever to straddle this pipe. And by providing spacer members both at the ends at the pivoting (or pipecrossing) portion of the lever, I secure a rigid construction even when the two main bars or strips of my lever are formed from fairly thin metal.

However, while I have illustrated and described my invention in an embodiment in- .cludlng numerous desirable details of consaid duct and having the lower end portion of the lever member engaging the said supporting surface; and means operatively interposed between the lever member and the pipe for relatively moving the same, whereby to vary the elevation of the burner.

2. An oil burning heater as per claim 1, in which the said'lower end portion of the lever member comprises a roller revoluble on an axis parallel to the aforesaid axis.

3. In an oil burning heater, a rigid unit comprising a burner, an oil supply member spaced horizontally from the burner, and a rigid oil duct connecting the oil supply member with the burner; the said unit being adapted to rock about its supply member end; a lever member pivotally connected to the said pipe on a horizontal pivot axis and lncluding a leg-forming arm sloping downward from the said pivot axis; and the thermostatic means interposed between the lever and the oil duct at a distance from the said pivot axis for relatively moving the oil duct and the lever, whereby to vary the elevation of the burner.

4. An oil burning heater as per claim 3, in

which the lever member also includes a second Y arm extending from the said pivot ax s above the fuel duct, and in which the thermostatic means are operatively interposed between the said second arm and the oil duct.

5. In an oil burning heater, a rigid unit comprising a burner, a rockingly supported oil supply member spaced horizontally from the burner, and a rigid oil duct connecting the oil supply member with the burner; a lever member pivotally connected to the oil and the oil supply member, the levermember 7 including andnclined arm extending below the oil duct and presenting a foot spaced horizontally from the said pivot axis; and means interposed between the lever member and the oil duct for relatively moving the l ever and the oil duct about the said pivot axis.

6. In an oil burning heater, a rigid unit comprising a burner, a rockingly supported oil supply member spaced horizontally from the burner, and a rigid oil duct connecting the oil supply member with the burner; alever member pivotally connected to the oil duct on a'horizontal pivot axis extending transverse of the oil ductbetwecn the burner and the oil supply member, the lever member including an inclined arm extending below the oil duct and presenting a foot spaced horizontally from the said pivot, the said lever arm serving to support the burner in an elevated position in which the weight of the burner continually tends to decrease the angle at which the said lever arm is inclined to the horizontal; and thermally expansible means.

for moving the lever .arm with respect to the oil duct about the said pivot axis in a direction increasing the said angle.

7. In an oil burning heater, a rigid unit comprising a burner, a rockingly supported oil supply member spaced horizontally from the burner, and a rigid oil duct connecting the fuel supply member with the burner and supporting the burner; a lever of the first class pivotally connected to the oil duct on a horizontal pivot axis extending transverse of the oil duct between the burner and the oil supply member, the lever including an inclined leg-forming arm extending longitudinally of the oil duct in a direction away from the oil supply member, and a second arm extending from the said axis and above the oil duct toward the oil supply member, and

interposed between the said duct and the lever-ar1n for relatively moving the lever member and the said duct about the said pivot axis.

8. In an oil burning heater, a rigid unit comprising a burner, a rockingly supported oil supply member spaced horizontally from the burner, and a rigid oil duct connecting the fuelsupplymemberwith the burner and supporting the burner; a lever of the first class pivotally connected to the oil duct on a horizontal pivot axis extending transverse of the oil duct between the burner and the oil supply member, the lever including an inclined legforming arm extending longitudinally of the oil duct in a direction away from the oil supply member, and a second arm extending from the said axis and above the oil duct toward the oil supply member; thermally expansible means supported by the oil duct, and manually adjustable means interposed between the thermally expansible means and the said second lever arm.

9. In an oil-burning heater, a rigid unit comprising an oil supply member, a burner and an oil duct interposed therebetween; an inclined lever extending oblique to and effectively across the oil duct and pivotally connected to the oil duct on a horizontal pivot axis transverse to the general direction in which the oil duct extends; and theremally responsive means for rocking the lever about the said pivot axis with respect to the il duct; the said unit having a support-engaging portion adjacent to the oil supply member, and the lever having a support-engaging foot portion, the said support-engaging portions cooperating to support the recited assemblage regardless of the relative positions of the oil duct and the lever.

10. In an oil-burning heater, a rigid unit comprising an oil supply member, a burner and arf oil duct interposed therebetween; an inclined lever extending oblique to and effectively across the oil duct and pivotally connected to the oil duct on a horizontal pivot axis transverse to the general direction in which the oil duct extends; and thermally responsive means for rocking the lever about the said pivot axis with respect to the oil duct; the said unit having adjacent to the oil supply member a portion adapted to rock on a supporting surface about an axis parallel to the said lever axis, and the lever having adjacent to the burner a portion adapted to engage a supporting surface and to move along that surface in a general direction longitudinal of the oil duct.

11. In an oil-burning heater, a rigid unit comprising an oil supply member, a burner and an oil duct interposed therebetween; an inclined lever extending oblique to and effectively across the oil duct and pivotally connected to the oil duct on a horizontal pivot axis transverse to the general direct-ion in which the oil duct extends; and thermally responsive means for rocking the lever about the said pivot axis with respect to the oil duct; the said unit having adjacent to the oil supply member two portions spaced transversely of the duct and both adapted to rock upona supporting surface, and the lever having a portion underhanging the burner and rolling upon a supporting surface.

i 12. In an oil-burning heater, a rigid unit comprising an oil supply member, a burner and an oil duct interposed therebetween; an inclined lever extending oblique to and effectively across the oil duct and pivotally connected to the oil duct on a horizontal pivot axis transverse to the general direction in which the oil duct extends; and thermally responsive means for rocking the lever about t e said pivot axis with respect to the oil duct to vary the inclination of the lever, the said unit having a support-engaging portion adjacent to the oil supply member about which the unit is adapted to rock in a vertical plane longitudinal of the oil duct, and the lever having a foot cooperating with the aforesaid portion to support the said unit.

13. In a liquid fuel burning device, a unit comprising a constant level oil supply well, a burner spaced laterally from the said well, and a spacer member rigidly connecting the burner with the well; the said unit being disposed for rocking about a horizontal axis extending adjacent to the said well and transverse of the direction in which the burner is spaced from the well; an inclined leg pivoted at its upper end to the said unit at a distance from the said axis; and means operatively interposed between the said leg and unit for varying the inclination of the said leg, whereby to vary the elevation of the burner with respect to the said well. a

14. 'In an oil-burning heater, a rigid unit comprising an oil well, a burner spaced horizontally from the oil well, and an oil duct connectin the burner with the well, the said unit being isposed for rocking about a horizontal axis adjacent to the well; a lever extending efi'ectively across the oil duct and pivotally connected to the oil duct on a horizontal pivot axis transverse of the oil duct, the lever presenting a foot spaced longitudinally of the oil duct from the said pivot axis; and means interposed between the lever and a portion of the said unit for moving the lever so as to vary the spacing between the said lever foot and the well.

15. An oil burning heater as per claim 14, in which the said means include two thermally expansible members supported by the said unit respectively at opposite sides of* the lever, a presser member extending transversely of the lever and engaging both thermostatic members, an adjustable thrust member interposed between the lever and the presser member.

16. An oil burning heater as per claim 14, in which the said means include two thermally expansible members supported by the said unit respectively at opposite sides of the lever, a presser member extending transversely of the lever and engaging both thermostatic members, a nut supported by the lever, and a thrust member threaded through the nut and engaging the presser member, the

presser member having arms engaging opposite sides of the nut to prevent rotation of the presser member about the axis of the thrust member.

17. "A liquid fuel burning device, a unit comprising a constant level oil supply. well, a burner spaced laterally from the said well, and a spacer member rigidly connecting the burner with the well; the said unit bein disposed for rocking about a horizontal axis extending adjacent to the said well and transverse of the direction in which the burner is spaced from the well; an inclined leg member pivoted to the said unit at a distance from the said axis and serving to hold the burner higher than the foot end of the said leg member, and control means operatively interposed between the said leg member and unit for varying the inclination of the leg member; the control means including a thermally expansible member disposed so that an expansion of the thermally expansible member will increase the size of the acute angle at which the leg extends with respect to the horizontal, thereby raising the burner with respect to the oil well.

18. A liquid fuel burning device as per claim 17, in which thecontrol means also include manually adjustable means for varying the inclination of the leg and the elevation of the burner with a given expansion of the thermally expansible member.

Signed at Macomb, Illinois, December 20th, 1930.

-- 26 DEWEY H. HILL. 

